Can dystonia affect the jaw?

Can dystonia affect the jaw?

Oromandibular dystonia, sometimes referred to as cranial dystonia, is characterized by forceful muscle contractions of the face, jaw, and/or tongue. The muscle contractions cause involuntary movements that interfere with opening and closing the mouth and may affect chewing and speech.

Is Oromandibular dystonia TMJ?

Dystonia affecting the perioral and pharyngeal regions is called oromandibular dystonia (OMD). OMD can affect the jaw muscles and may cause trismus, mouth-closing disturbance, tooth wear/loss, and damage to the oral soft tissues and temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Can dystonia affect the face?

Cranial dystonia affects the muscles of the head, face, and neck (such as blepharospasm).

What does Oromandibular dystonia feel like?

Jaw or tongue (oromandibular dystonia). You might experience slurred speech, drooling, and difficulty chewing or swallowing. Oromandibular dystonia can be painful and often occurs in combination with cervical dystonia or blepharospasms.

What is dystonia of the jaw?

Oromandibular dystonia (OMD) is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, paroxysmal, and patterned muscle contractions of varying severity resulting in sustained spasms of masticatory muscles, affecting the jaws, tongue, face, and pharynx.

What causes dystonia of the jaw?

Experts believe dystonia results from excessive signals arising from the brain that cause muscles to contract inappropriately. However, the exact reason why the brain delivers these excessive signals is not completely understood.

How is oromandibular dystonia treated?

Oromandibular Dystonia (OMD) Treatment These medications include clonazepam, trihexyphenidyl, diazepam, tetrabenazine, and/or baclofen. Many people with OMD experience reduced spasms and improved ability to chew after a botox injection (the toxin botulinum).

Can dystonia be cured?

Dystonia has no cure, but you can do a number of things to minimize its effects: Sensory tricks to reduce spasms. Touching certain parts of your body may cause spasms to stop temporarily.

How do I calm my dystonia?

Dystonia has no cure, but you can do a number of things to minimize its effects:

1. Sensory tricks to reduce spasms. Touching certain parts of your body may cause spasms to stop temporarily.
2. Heat or cold. Applying heat or cold can help ease muscle pain.
3. Stress management.

How serious is dystonia?

Torsion dystonia is a very rare disorder. It affects the entire body and seriously disables the person who has it. Symptoms generally appear in childhood and get worse as the person ages. Researchers have found that torsion dystonia is possibly inherited, caused by a mutation in the gene DYT1.

Is dystonia a disability?

When dystonia is severe and prevents employment, it can qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Although the Social Security Administration (SSA) has no disability listing for dystonia, there are still several ways to qualify for benefits, including: Meeting a listing for another impairment you have.

How is Oromandibular dystonia treated?

How does oromandibular dystonia affect your speech?

Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles of the jaw, lips, and tongue. It may cause difficulties with opening and closing the jaw, and speech and swallowing can be affected. Spasmodic dysphonia, also called laryngeal dystonia, involves the muscles that control the vocal cords, resulting in strained or breathy speech.

How is oromandibular dystonia related to Meige syndrome?

The term Meige syndrome is sometimes applied to cranio-facial dystonia accompanied by blepharospasm. Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles of the jaw, lips, and tongue. This dystonia may cause difficulties with opening and closing the jaw, and speech and swallowing can be affected.

How does cervical dystonia affect the head and shoulders?

The muscles in the neck that control the position of the head are affected, causing the head to turn to one side or to be pulled forward or backward. Sometimes the shoulder is pulled up. Cervical dystonia can occur at any age, although most individuals first experience symptoms in midlife.

When does dystonia affect only one specific action?

Over time, the symptoms may become more noticeable or widespread; sometimes, however, there is little or no progression. In some cases, dystonia can affect only one specific action, while allowing others to occur unimpeded. For example, a musician may have dystonia when using a hand to play an instrument, but not when using the same hand to type.